Another horror inspired by actual events, ‘The Rite’ gives you a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The movie moves on subtly but goes on to touch subjects that some of the cult classics have dropped out. Anthony Hopkins appears in the movie in a pivotal role. But what makes it difficult for him to embrace the role is the fact that he was an agnostic back then.
The movie revolves around a young to-be priest who is not sure if he should take that path. Thus he ends up taking an exorcism course and meeting a not-so-ethical exorcist. The two embark on an adventure to find a demon that has been haunting different people. Finally, both priests fall victim to the demon trying to fight it with all their spiritual power.
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Anthony Hopkins Writes A Line For Himself In ‘The Rite’
‘The Rite’ progresses with a young priest named Michael Kovak, who is in Vatican City to study a course on exorcism. This is where he meets the exorcist played by Anthony Hopkins, named Father Lucas. The young priest Kovak was always a doubter and didn’t believe in God. While trying to change his mind, Father Lucas also confided to Kovak how he himself was not a believer always.
Back then being an agnostic, ‘The Father’ actor wanted to implant a part of himself into the character. In a particular scene, the character presents himself as a skeptic and an atheist. The exorcist talks of people like them who are in search of the truth but he wonders what they’ll do once they find the truth.
Father Lucas admits to having lost faith at one point. “There are times when I experience a total loss of faith – days, months when I don’t know what the hell I believe in – God or the devil, Santa Claus or Tinker Bell,” Father Lucas explains. This line was written by Anthony Hopkins which he felt reflected with him.
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Why The Athiest Message In The Movie?
Finding himself between the fine lines of an agnostic and atheist, Anthony Hopkins left his core beliefs with that line in ‘The Rite’. “I wanted to fit like a glove, a piece of myself in that because that’s what I believe. I don’t know what I believe, myself personally,” the actor added in an interview during the release of the movie.
However, fast forward to this day, the two-time Academy Award winner is a staunch believer in God. He believes this faith has saved him from his alcoholism. The actor had in a talk with LEAP Foundation expressed his religious take and encouraged the listeners to build up a life on self-motivation and determination.
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